Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has given a positive assessment of a conversation he had with US envoys on how to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Zelensky said Thursday's call with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which lasted nearly an hour, had yielded 'new ideas in terms of formats, meetings, and... timing on how to bring a real peace closer'.
He spoke a day after giving details of an updated 20-point peace plan, agreed by US and Ukrainian envoys in Florida. Zelensky noted that he had asked Witkoff and Kushner to convey Christmas greetings to US President Donald Trump 'and the entire Trump family'.
The Kremlin announced it was evaluating the proposals brought back from the US by a Russian envoy. Trump, alongside his envoys, has been actively engaging with both Ukraine and Russia in a bid to broker an agreement to halt the conflict initiated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Recent diplomatic exchanges indicate some advancement, with Zelensky commending the 'good ideas' shared by Witkoff and Kushner. He described the day as 'active' for Ukraine's diplomatic efforts and highlighted that while work remains on sensitive issues, there is a cooperative understanding with the American team on moving forward.
Zelensky confirmed that the Ukrainian negotiator, Rustem Umerov, is set to confer again with the two envoys soon.
The updated peace plan is seen as a response to a proposal drafted by Witkoff and Russian negotiators that heavily favored Russia's positions. Zelensky mentioned that the new proposal includes security guarantees from the US, NATO, and European allies for a consolidated military response should Russia invade Ukraine again.
Additionally, discussions included a potential 'free economic zone' for Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, with any vacated areas requiring Ukrainian policing.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that they are analyzing the proposals from Dmitriev before continuing communications with American representatives.
Simultaneously, military engagements persist, as the Ukrainian military reported strikes on a significant Russian oil refinery critical for operations in the eastern occupied regions.
He spoke a day after giving details of an updated 20-point peace plan, agreed by US and Ukrainian envoys in Florida. Zelensky noted that he had asked Witkoff and Kushner to convey Christmas greetings to US President Donald Trump 'and the entire Trump family'.
The Kremlin announced it was evaluating the proposals brought back from the US by a Russian envoy. Trump, alongside his envoys, has been actively engaging with both Ukraine and Russia in a bid to broker an agreement to halt the conflict initiated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Recent diplomatic exchanges indicate some advancement, with Zelensky commending the 'good ideas' shared by Witkoff and Kushner. He described the day as 'active' for Ukraine's diplomatic efforts and highlighted that while work remains on sensitive issues, there is a cooperative understanding with the American team on moving forward.
Zelensky confirmed that the Ukrainian negotiator, Rustem Umerov, is set to confer again with the two envoys soon.
The updated peace plan is seen as a response to a proposal drafted by Witkoff and Russian negotiators that heavily favored Russia's positions. Zelensky mentioned that the new proposal includes security guarantees from the US, NATO, and European allies for a consolidated military response should Russia invade Ukraine again.
Additionally, discussions included a potential 'free economic zone' for Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, with any vacated areas requiring Ukrainian policing.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that they are analyzing the proposals from Dmitriev before continuing communications with American representatives.
Simultaneously, military engagements persist, as the Ukrainian military reported strikes on a significant Russian oil refinery critical for operations in the eastern occupied regions.
